Flush valve for toilets



Jan. 8, 1957 E. w. DETJEN 2,775,437

FLUSH VALVE FOR TO'ILETS Filed Sept; 23, 1953 INVEN R EDGAR W. TJ EN TORNEYS United States Patent FLUSH VALVE FOR TOILETS Edgar W. Detjen, Kiel, Wis.

Application September 23, 1953, Serial No. 381,889

3 Claims. (Cl. 4-57) This invention appertains to flush valves for toilets and the like, and more particularly to a novel connection between the ball float valve and the lift arm or lever for the valve.

As is well known, great difliculty is had with the proper accurate seating of the ball float valve on the flush outlet pipe of the toilet tank and sticking of the valve stem on the flush arm connection often occurs preventing the valve from even reaching its seat.

()ne of the primary objects of my invention, is to provide a ball float valve which is pivotallysupported by the overflow pipe directly above the valve seat, so that when the water in the tank (after flushing) reaches a certain low level, the ball valve will be effectively drawn down with a perfect fit on its seat, to prevent objectionable leakage of water through the flush pipe and the annoying sound associated therewith.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide means for eliminating the usual valve stem and the guide for slidably supporting the stem, where sticking often occurs, and to provide in lieu of the stern, a pivoted arm connected directly to the ball valve and supported by the overflow pipe in a certain predetermined relation to the valve seat, so that the ball valve will always be in proper position ready to be drawn down on its seat.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a bracket for carrying a pivoted plate which carries the ball valve, the adjustability of the bracket permitting the proper location of the valve relative to its seat.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of means for adjustably mounting the ball valve on the hinge plate so that the ball valve can be accurately centered relative to its seat.

A still further important object of my invention is the provision of a flush valve which can be incorporated in a conventional toilet tank without any change in the construction thereof or in the lift arm for the valve.

A still further important object of my invention is the provision of a flush valve attachment for toilet tanks, which will be durable and eificient in use, one that can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost, and one which can be installed by a layman.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing,

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through the flush tank for a toilet and the like, illustrating my novel flush valve arrangement, the view showing the ball float valve on its seat in full lines and in its floating position after operation by the flush lift arm in dotted lines, the section being taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing parts of my flush valve arrangement in top plan.

Figure 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating my novel bracket and clamp for pivotally supporting the plate for the ball valve.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the bracket or clamp taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating the slight play of the pivot pin on the bracket.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter D generally ind cates my novel flush valve device for controlling the flow of water from a water reservoir tank 5, such as the flush tank of a toilet. In accordance with the usual practice, the lower wall 6 of the tank receives the pipe 7 for flushing a toilet (not shown). The pipe 7 extends into the tank and is provided at its upper end with an annular valve seat 8. Disposed at one side of the flush pipe 7 and arranged within the tank 5 and communicating with the flush pipe below the valve seat 8 is the overflow pipe 9. Disposed within the tank 5 above the seat 8, is the lift arm or lever it), which can be raised and lowered for flushing the toilet in the usual way. Connected with the lift arm 10 is the pull chain 11, which also forms a part of the standard flush tank equipment.

My improved flushing device D includes the hollow rubber ball float valve 12, which can be considered of a type now commonly used in toilet flush tanks. The float valve 12 is formed and shaped to fit snugly at its lower end on the valve seat 8 to prevent the flow of water from the tank through the flush outlets of the pipe 7.

The important feature of my invention is the provision of novel means for accurately supporting the ball float valve 12 relative to the seat 8, and in such a manner that the same can be lifted off of its seat by the lift arm 10 and the chain 11. This means includes a pivot plate 13 which can be stamped or otherwise formed from sheet metal, such as stainless steel, and this plate includes side arms 14 which are adapted to straddle the overflow pipe 9. The arms 14 at their forward ends are connected by a flat web 15 and this web is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 16. An adjustable screw 17 extends through the slot and into the ball to securely connect the ball with the pivot plate and obviously by loosening the screw 17 and adjusting the same in the slot 16 the ball 12 can be properly centered relative to its seat 8 after the mounting of the pivot lever on the overflow pipe 9, as will now be described.

In order to pivotally support the plate 13, I employ a bracket or clamp 18 which includes a block 19 having an inner arcuate face for snugly fitting around the overflow pipe 9. The block is provided with upstanding pivot ears 20 and the block is also provided with spaced longitudinally extending ways 21. A U-shaped clamp bolt 22 partially embraces the overflow pipe 9 and the legs of the bolt are extended through the ways 21. Wing nuts 23 are threaded on the arms against the block for eflectively drawing the block and the bolt into gripping contact with the overflow pipe and obviously, the bracket or clamp can be adjusted up and down the overflow pipe to insure the correct and proper positioning of the ball float valve 12 relative to its seat. A pivot pin 24 extends through the pivot cars 20 and the arms 14 of the pivot plate 13. Hence the pivot plate and the ball valve are free to move up and down on the overflow pipe toward and away from the valve seat 8. There is a slight play of the pivot pin 24 in the ears 20 and a slight spacing of the arms 14 from the sides of the cars 20 which allows a slight floating action of the ball 12 from side to side. The pull chain 11 can be attached to an upturned lug 25 formed on the forward end of the pivot plate 13.

The various parts of my device are preferably constructed from metal which will resist rust.

In use of my improved device and considering for the moment that the tank 5 is full of water, and it is desired to flush the toilet, the lift arm is manipulated in the usual manner and the ball 12 will be pulled ofi of its seat swinging the plate 13 on its pivot 24. Due to the buoyancy of the ball valve 12, the same will float in the water during the flushing of the toilet (see the dotted line showing in Figure 1). When the water reaches a certain level, the ball valve 12 will be right above its seat 8 and as the water continues to lower the ball will be drawn on its seat by the suction pull of the water and the ball will be held on its seat.

With my arrangement the ball readily raises and lowers and is held against misalignment relative to its seat.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that I have provided a unit which is simple, compact and easy to install and which can be manufactured at a low cost.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but What I claim as new is:

1. In a flushing device for toilet and like tanks, a flush tank, an outlet pipe extending into the tank having a valve seat on its upper end, an overflow pipe communicating with the outlet pipe below the valve seat, a lift arm, a ball float valve for the seat, a bracket mounted on the overflow pipe a predetermined distance above the valve seat, a pivot plate supported by the bracket, means for securing the ball float valve to the outer end of the plate including a longitudinal slot in the outer end of said plate and a headed screw extending through said slot and into said ball float valve, and a pull chain connecting the outer end of the plate to the lift arm.

2. In a flushing device for toiled and like tanks, a flush tank, an outlet pipe extending into the tank having a valve seat on its upper end, an overflow pipe communicating with the outlet pipe below the valve seat, a lift arm, a ball float valve for the seat, a bracket mounted on the overflow pipe a predetermined distance above the valve seat including, a clamp block having upstanding ears fitted against the overflow pipe, a U-shaped bolt straddling the overflow pipe and adjustably connected to the block, a pivot plate straddling the overflow pipe, a pivot pin connecting the plate to the ears, a longitudinal slot in the outer end of said plate, means securing the ball float valve to the outer end of the plate including, a headed screw extending through said slot and into said ball float valve, and pull chain connecting the outer end of the plate to the lift arm.

3. A flushing device for toilet and like bowls, said device comprising, a flush tank, and outlet pipe extending into the tank and having a valve seat on its end within the tank, an overflow pipe communicating with the outlet pipe below the valve seat, a ball float valve for the seat, a bracket mounted on the overflow pipe above the valve seat, a link having spaced arms at one end straddling the overflow pipe and pivotally connected to the bracket and having a slot therethrough adjacent the other end, means for adjustably securing the valve to the slotted end of the link comprising a bolt extending through the slot and into the valve, and means for lifting the valve off its seat including a chain connected to the link.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,201,416 Zierner Oct. 17, 1916 2,067,759 Gavin Jan. 12, 1937 2,142,393 Halteman Jan. 3, 1939 2,190,160 Mason Feb. 13, 1940 2,598,967 Bennett June 3, 1952 2,602,933 Curry July 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 288,086 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1928 

